Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Dennis McFadden of Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Thessalonians 2. We hear and feel another example of the “Pastoral Paul.”  He speaks of his love for the Thessalonians as he labored among them in trial and persecution and, like a loving father and mother, desires that they would continue to grow in the Christ and His Word.  We pray for the same of our loved ones, neighbors, and members of our churches.  “O Lord God, keep us steadfast in Your Word.  Enlighten the hearts of ministers to care for each soul with Your Word, strengthen believers even in persecution, and change the hearts of unbelievers to confess Your Son as Lord.  In His name, Amen”

Rev. Jacob Heine, Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Thessalonians 1. Paul gives thanks to the LORD for the Thessalonians.  He gives thanks for the gift of faith, hope, and love given to them by our LORD.  Paul’s time in Thessalonica did not appear to be fruitful, but by the Holy Spirit people believed and the church grew throughout their region.  Paul reminds all of us that it is by God’s love that we are chosen and made holy all on account of Christ.  “Lord God, help us to be thankful.  Thankful for Your work on the cross and thankful for the gift of faith given to others.  This Holy Week, fix our eyes on Jesus once again as You show us the center of our faith---the cross and the empty tomb.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Ryan Fehrmann, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Wausau, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Colossians 4:2-18. Paul gives his final instructions and greetings.  Continue steadfast in prayer.  Pray that the LORD would open a door for the Gospel of Christ’s full and free forgiveness to be declared and our words may be gracious, seasoned with salt.  This is a tall order, but not only will God give You His Holy Spirit and He gives you fellow believers.  Paul shows us that we need not be lone rangers.  He had Tychicus, Onesimus, Mark, Justus, Epaphras, Demas, Nympha, and Archippus, not only for encouragement to one another, but also to spread the Word around.  “Lord God, surround us with fellow Christians to serve You and love others.  Give us lips to pray, give You praise, and encourage one another as if it is seasoned with salt.  Lord have mercy.  In Christ, Amen.”

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Colossians 3:12-4:1. You are God’s chosen one, holy and beloved.  As you have been chosen, He has called us to live in accordance with His gracious will.  Paul gives us important instructions on how to live as the body of Christ (kindness, compassion, meekness, forgiving), in the home (submission, love, & obedience), and in our working relationships (service and justice).  The words of Paul lead us to ask the questions, “How can I serve as one washed, redeemed, and made holy in Christ?”  “How can I serve my family?”  “How can I serve in my area of work?”  “Lord God, as Your chosen and holy ones by the blood of Christ, help us to be compassionate, forgiving, loving, subservient, obedient, and servants to those You have brought before us.  Lord have mercy, In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Kevin Martin, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Colossians 3:1-11. Christ has raised you to new life.  It is no longer I who live, dead to sin, but Christ who lives in me.  We all have temptations to seek worldly ways: immorality, evil desires, anger, malice, coveting.  Our modern day tends to act as if “you can’t change.”  But Paul reminds us that change is possible, you can glorify God with your body and your words, put off the old self as Christ clothes you with the new self.  Christ is all and in all---you were baptized into Him.  “Lord God, thank You for bringing us to death in repentance and raising us to new life in Christ.  Give us Your grace and power that we may glorify You with our bodies in word and deed that others may see our good works and give glory to YOU.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins host Rev. Brady Finnern of Messiah Lutheran Church, Sartell, MN to study Colossians 2. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. The pastoral Paul comes out front and center.  He grieves the false teaching the Colossians were receiving.  He addresses these concerns with a rich teaching of Christ’s deity, a powerful preaching of the fullness of death and resurrection in baptism, and an exhortation not to treat traditions as anything other than a tradition.  Our Lord Jesus has made you alive in Christ, fully forgiven, and our sins were nailed to the cross not for us to take down!  “Lord God, keep us steadfast to right teaching.  Keep us faithful to the fullness of Your mercy and grace in Christ, the truth of who You are, and resting in the truth that You have canceled our record of debt to make us alive in You.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Lane Burgland of Churubusco, Indiana joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Colossians 1:15-29. Find his book at "Reading the Bible with Understanding" cph.org/p-1615-Reading-the-Bible-with-Understanding.aspx. “It’s all about Jesus!”  Paul proclaims a creedal type of sermon by showing us that Christ is above all things, not only the church, but also everything that is visible & invisible, thrones & dominions, rulers & authorities.  How does He use this authority?  He reconciles us to the Father and makes peace by His cross.  Suffering will come.  Paul rejoices even in that suffering.  Our LORD Jesus knows our suffering and powerfully works in us (v.29).  “Lord Jesus, You show Your authority by reconciling us to You and making peace by Your forgiveness, thank You for giving us this grace and help us endure suffering with grace by Your power.  In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Paul Deterding, pastor and teacher at St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to begin our study of Colossians. Faith & hope needs a source.  The church in Colossae had faith and hope, but the source was wrong.  A source based on knowledge and a denial of physical realities.  Their pastor, Epaphras, had visited Paul while in jail and expressed concern that the church had focused more on knowledge than their incarnate, crucified, and physically risen Savior.  Paul encourages the Colossians to re-focus their attention on the content of their faith & hope, Christ and Him crucified, because from that content they receive real redemption, that is, forgiveness in Christ.  “Lord Jesus Christ, Your incarnation, death, resurrection, body and blood is where our hope is founded.  By Your Holy Spirit, keep us grounded in the true faith so that Your love will be given to others.  In Your name, Amen” 

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 4:2-23. “Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say rejoice.”  Paul speaks these words after establishing “Whose we are.”  We are the blood bought ones “whose names are written in the book of life (v.5).”  This last chapter of Philippians pulls the whole book together of why he rejoices, is content, and is not anxious, even in prison. The LORD is with us (v.5), we can come to the LORD in prayer (v.6),  we have good things from God on which to focus (v.8-9), and He has provided people around us to encourage and unite us in Christ (Euodia, Syntyche, the true companion, Clement, Epaphroditus, & Caesar).  “Lord God, help us to rejoice in the good things from You.  Help us to be content and provide people to encourage us and that we may encourage others.  No matter the circumstance we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Amen”

Rev. Ingo Dutzmann of Harpswell, Maine, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 3:12-4:1. “Praise the LORD and pass the potatoes!”  Paul teaches us to rejoice in the “now and not yet.”  The Christian life is like a race--straining forward, forgetting what lies behind, and pressing on to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Yet, we hold onto the hope of heaven as we wait until the time of Christ who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.  Until then, we “praise the LORD and pass the potatoes.”  “Lord God, as You have us here, give us peace, patience, and trust in Your promises in Christ that we love You and love others.  In everything fill us with Your Holy Spirit to grow in faith and praise to You.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Nathan Meador, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 3:1-11. Paul calls us to task about confidence.  Is our confidence in our own actions?  Paul responds, “Let me tell you about actions: circumcised, direct lineage to the Israelites—no mixing with other nations, follower of the law, persecutor of anyone outside of Judaism, and righteous in all my actions.”  Paul continues with a big “BUT” — but all of that is a wash, rubbish, a loss, and has no value compared to the surpassing righteousness of Christ’s cross that we receive in the gift of faith.  Simple, but also beyond comprehension.  Thanks be to God!  “Lord God, fill us to have our confidence in Your cross and righteousness alone.  Help us be faithful until our last breath and that we find our hope in Your grace, love, and forgiveness in Christ.  In Him alone, Amen”

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Warrenton, Missouri, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 2:12-20. Paul is 800 miles from the Philippians, yet, he speaks to them as a beloved father speaks to his children.  Paul exhorts them to holy living by holding fast to the truth of Christ (be blameless & innocent without grumbling or dispute).  He reminds us also of the importance of fellow workers in the kingdom.  He will be sending both Timothy and Epaphroditus to Philippi soon, not only for their edification, but for his joy of knowing that God’s Word would continue to move forward.  In the same way, may we give thanks for the Word continuing to be proclaimed around the world and rejoice in His grace.  “Lord God, thank you for all workers who proclaim the Word and help us to hold fast to Christ’s promises and be blameless with our actions, not for our glory but for Your good pleasure.  In Christ, Amen”  

Rev. Thomas Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 2:1-11. Paul speaks clear words of our Lord Jesus.  “He made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant” and “He was highly exalted and bestowed on him the name that is above all names.”  Jesus did not come to be a nice guy, change a political structure, or give a few moral thoughts.  He came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.  He calls us to have this same humble mind as we know that our Lord has had the victory and we follow in His name.  “Lord, Jesus Christ, thank you for being our example, savior, servant, and King.  As you laid aside your power for the sake of our forgiveness, we ask that You would give us humble hearts to look at others as more significant than ourselves.  All to Your glory.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 1:18b-30. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Paul encompasses the reality of being a baptized child of God.  We may ask the question, “Why does God have me here?”  Paul assures the Philippians that when we are in Christ, we do not know why things happen, but we do know that in life we have Christ to serve others and to die is to be with the Lord.  Suffering may come, but in faith we trust that the Gospel will be advanced and joy comes with Him.  “Lord God, we bring all brothers and sisters in Christ, that we all live worthy of the Gospel and rejoice in all circumstances.  Lord have mercy, Amen”

Rev. John Schmidtke, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 1:1-18a. Paul gives thanks to the LORD for the church in Philippi for their partnership in the Gospel.  Despite his imprisonment, the Gospel had been advanced.  This advancement of the Gospel is proof of Paul’s words in Romans chapter 1, “The Gospel is the power of salvation for those who believe.”  As partakers of God’s grace, we rejoice that He has called us to Him in Christ and the honor of proclaiming His Truth.  “Heavenly Father, thank You for our salvation in Christ.  We humbly ask that You would use us in any circumstance so that the Gospel would be advanced.  Bring us together as the body of Christ to pray, encourage, & strengthen us in His work.  Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 6. Paul gives us instructions to a “holy order” for husbands/wives, children/parents, and bondservants/masters.  All of these orders are to God’s glory and in Him.  He also prepares us for battle with evil, the devil, and the present darkness with His armor: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  All of this He gives by His Word.  Stay strong in the LORD, brothers and sisters of Christ, and pray for all the saints.  “Lord God, cover us with Your armor that we may stay strong and keep us steadfast in Your Word.  Lord in Your mercy, Amen”

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 5:22-33. Paul lays out a holy order for marriage.  Wives submit to your husbands; husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.  It sounds so simple, right?  It only takes a few verses to realize that we all need to repent and seek God’s grace in Christ.  Yet, Jesus never asks us to do something that He would not do Himself.  He has submitted to us by becoming nothing and going to the cross.  He has loved us to the point of death.  This love showers upon us to know that on this journey He will sustain strengthen, forgive, and bless our marriages as He first loved us.  “Lord Jesus Christ, help us to love as You first loved us.  Help husbands to have a sacrificial love for their wives and wives to submit and respect their husbands, all to Your glory and all by Your grace found in the cross.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 5:1-21. Christ loves you and gave himself for you as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  His love flows on us and He leads us to walk in His Light as sons of the LORD and not disobedience.  These words lead us to prayer that we may stay from the evils in the world, but also that He would fill us with His Holy Spirit by the Word.  “O Holy Spirit, keep us from sexual immorality, covetousness, impurity, filthy talk, crude joking, drunkenness, and fill us with You by Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and giving thanks to You for everything.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. David Fleming of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI & Executive Director of Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 4:17-32. Learn more about DOXOLOGY at doxology.us. Christ has forgiven all of your sins.  Paul preaches that we are to put on a new self with exhortations to be done by the Holy Spirit: put away falsehood, speak truth, be angry but do not sin, be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving as Christ has forgiven you.  These are high callings, but the LORD will not leave you to do this alone but will give You power by His Holy Spirit.  We all need more truth, less anger, more kindness, tender people, and forgiveness from the hands of Christ.  “O LORD, fill us with Your grace that we may live a new life that puts away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice.  Lord help us.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dan Eddy of Messiah Lutheran Church, Beloit, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern of Messiah Lutheran Church, Sartell, MN to study Ephesians 4. Our unity as Christians is founded on God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  From our LORD He provides us with pastors to bring the precious gifts of Christ’s  forgiveness, life, and salvation by the Word to equip saints for His Work.  From His gift we are to be people of humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, speaking  truth in love, and building each other up in love.  “LORD God, thank You for uniting us together as one in You and help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which You have called us in Christ.  Help us to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another, speaking the truth in love, and building each other up in Christ.  In Your name, Amen.”